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NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 27 September 1926

27 SEPTEMBER 1926

Towards the end of the final meeting of the Assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva, news was received that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies had approved of the return of Argentina to the league. During the meeting Viscount Cecil referred to the difference between British and French mentalities as one of the difficulties of the work of the League.

No developments in the coal deadlock took place during the week-end. A national delegate conference of the Miners’ Federation has been summoned to meet on Wednesday, and the Miners’ Executive hope to meet the General Council of the Trade Union Congress to-morrow.

Mr A. J. Cook, the miners’ secretary, speaking at Cinderford, in the Forest of Dean, said they had reached the limit of their concessions. He would rather that every pit should shut down than that men should be driven back under conditions of longer hours and lower wages. At a previous meeting, near Radstock, in Somerset, Mr Cook said, “We have got to compromise now.”

Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., addressing a meeting of railway workers at Manchester, pleaded for goodwill and co-operation in the railway service. He advocated the principle that in demanding the best from the other side they must be prepared to give the best in return.

Mr Frank Hodges, secretary to the International Miners’ Federation, has carried his controversy with Mr A. J. Cook a stage further. In a statement Mr Hodges asks the miners to exercise their inviolable right to a ballot vote, and to declare to the world that they are not mere pawns in the game.

28/09/2026
NEWS STORY : UK Reaffirms Planned Ban on Goods From Illegal Israeli Settlements at UN

STORY

The UK has told the United Nations Security Council that it intends to legislate to prohibit imports from illegal Israeli settlements and introduce sanctions against people and organisations which finance, support or facilitate settlement activity. Ambassador Kate Foster, the UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said that the measures were being developed with international partners to protect the viability of a two state solution.

Foster criticised the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and called for the proposed E1 development not to proceed, arguing that it would separate East Jerusalem from the West Bank. She also called on the Israeli Government to prevent settler violence and ensure that those responsible were held accountable. The UK urged Israel to release clearance revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, provide sustainable banking arrangements and ease restrictions affecting movement, trade and employment.

Turning to Gaza, Foster said that the UK remained committed to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the 20 Point Peace Plan. She called for Hamas to surrender its weapons, dismantle its infrastructure and relinquish control of Gaza. The UK has pledged $117 million in humanitarian and early recovery assistance during 2026, while calling on Israel to remove restrictions on humanitarian aid, end the killing in Gaza and withdraw.

28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : The UK is acting with international partners to protect the two-state solution – UK statement at the UN Security Council

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 September 2026.

Statement by Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the West Bank.

Throughout High-Level Week, we heard a clear and repeated commitment to achieving a two-state solution.

It remains the only credible path forwards to a better future for Israelis and Palestinians, founded on lasting peace and security for both.

Yet the two-state solution is at risk of being destroyed by the facts on the ground.

Mr President, my Prime Minister has been clear: the 7th October 2023 terrorist attack on Israel was monstrous, and he has condemned Hamas’ actions in the strongest terms.

The United Kingdom continues to stand with Israel in the face of ongoing threats, including from Iran.

But my Prime Minister has also been clear that this does not justify the Government of Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza.

In the West Bank, Israel continues to expand settlements at pace, in violation of international law, and contrary to Resolution 2334.

We are approaching a point of no return with the E1 settlement project.

We welcome the reports that the deadline for bids may be delayed.

But a temporary delay is not enough.

It would sever East Jerusalem from the West Bank and endanger the viability of a two-state solution.

This project must not go ahead.

Alongside the rapid expansion of settlements, we have also seen an alarming increase in settler violence.

The Government of Israel must prevent violence in all of its forms and ensure proper accountability for perpetrators.

Pardons and decisions not to bring charges against Israeli soldiers who have committed violent crimes sends the opposite message.

The United Kingdom is acting with international partners to protect the two-state solution.

Together with partners, we have announced our intention to legislate to ban the import of goods from illegal settlements, and bring in sanctions against those who finance, support, and facilitate illegal settlements.

We have been clear that we view the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land as unlawful.

We continue to support the Palestinian Authority’s reform agenda and welcome its commitments to hold elections.

Credible, transparent, and reformed public institutions remain essential to a future Palestinian state.

We welcome the recent extension by Israel of correspondent banking relationships.

But we need urgent action to reverse policies which are crippling the West Bank economy.

Further measures must include:

The release of clearance revenues to the Palestinian Authority;

Ensuring sustainable and predictable banking arrangements;

Easing movement and access restrictions, facilitating trade, and improving access to employment and economic opportunities.

Turning to Gaza, the United Kingdom remains fully committed to implementation of Resolution 2803 and the 20-Point Peace Plan.

Hamas must decommission its weapons, dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and completely relinquish its control of Gaza.

The United Kingdom has pledged $117 million in humanitarian and early recovery assistance this year.

But aid cannot save lives if it cannot reach people.

With another winter approaching, urgent action is needed.

Last week, my Foreign Secretary, alongside Jordan and Qatar, brought partners together behind a Call to Action on humanitarian access and healthcare in Gaza.

The focus must now be on turning that shared commitment into tangible improvements for people on the ground.

Israel must lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid, stop the killing in Gaza, and withdraw.

Mr President, we are at a critical juncture.

The peoples of Israel and Palestine deserve a better future.

This Council must do all we can to protect the two-state solution, bolster stability in the West Bank, and bring the suffering in Gaza to an end.

28/09/2026
NEWS STORY : Government Announces Measures to Strengthen Homelessness Prevention and Protect Social Housing

STORY

The Government has confirmed that it will introduce amendments to the Social Housing Bill intended to improve access to housing for homeless households. Councils would receive new powers to refer homeless households to private registered providers of social housing, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between councils and housing associations and reducing reliance on temporary accommodation.

The Bill will also require private social housing providers to notify councils and other potential purchasers before selling homes outside the social housing sector. The Government intends to extend the notification period to eight weeks, giving councils and housing providers more time to consider purchasing the properties and retaining them for social housing.

A new Duty to Collaborate would require public services to work more closely together to identify people at risk of becoming homeless and consider what action they can take within their existing responsibilities. The Government said that the measures would support local authorities facing homelessness pressures and complement the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which is intended to increase the supply of social and affordable housing over ten years.

28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Social Housing Bill to strengthen homelessness prevention and protect social housing stock [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 28 September 2026.

New amendments to the Social Housing Bill will deliver stronger protections for homeless households.

The government has today (Monday 28 September) confirmed it will bring forward amendments to the Social Housing Bill. Additional measures will help retain more social homes, strengthen homelessness prevention and ensure social housing is allocated to those who need it most.

Through the Social Housing Bill, councils will be given new powers to refer homeless households to private registered providers of social housing, strengthening collaboration between housing associations and councils, helping to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation and improve access to housing for those in greatest need.

The Bill will also introduce a new disposals notification requirement, which will give councils and other social housing providers better opportunity to purchase social homes before they are sold outside the sector – which will help to retain our much-needed housing stock. The government intends to extend the notification period to eight weeks.

A new Duty to Collaborate will require public services to work more closely together to identify people at risk of homelessness and consider what action they can take within their existing responsibilities to help prevent homelessness.

The measures are intended to support councils in addressing homelessness pressures, strengthen partnership working across the housing sector and help maintain the long-term supply of social housing.

The government previously committed £39 billion over ten years through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme to support the delivery of new social and affordable housing. Councils and housing associations will continue to play a key role in increasing housing supply and providing homes for local communities.

28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor backs young people into work by supporting jobs [September 2026]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 28 September 2026.

The Chancellor has announced a package to help people into work, education and training, while building the skilled workforce Britain needs for the future.

The package will see the National Wealth Fund used to create and support 130,000 jobs across the UK, expanding local apprenticeship services to connect more young people with employers, and restoring the Union Learning Fund with £15 million a year to help people build new skills.

National Wealth Fund

The Chancellor has announced that Government will use the National Wealth Fund’s current capitalisation to create and support a further 130,000 jobs across the UK by 2030. The National Wealth Fund will support good jobs across sectors including AI and technology, defence and clean energy.

Rolls Royce funding expansion

In a boost for the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector, the Chancellor announced today that Rolls Royce will bring a landmark £300 million investment into its manufacturing and engineering facilities across the UK.

The significant investment reinforces the company’s commitment to the UK’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem, with funding going to factories across the UK. In Derby the company is investing more than £140 million on new engineering and manufacturing services facilities to enable future growth, supporting more than 10,000 employees.

In Bristol, the home of UK military power and propulsion, Rolls-Royce is investing over £90 million on a major facility upgrade programme – supporting the more than 3,500 employees based at the site, including highly skilled engineers.

An investment of £43 million at Inchinnan, Glasgow, is introducing machinery that will enable new engine components to be manufactured while in Rotherham, Rolls-Royce is investing £19 million at its Advanced Blade Casting Facility, doubling its output of advanced turbine blades – a critical component in jet engines – by 2030.

Expanding local apprenticeships services

Local leaders know their areas best and are ideally placed to match young people with small employers to create the apprenticeships their communities need.

Budget 2025 announced government funding to pilot apprenticeship brokerage in some Mayoral Strategic Authorities. Today the Chancellor’s announcement goes further, expanding funding to all 14 existing Mayoral Strategic Authorities with directly elected mayors, so they can help provide local apprenticeship services across England from Spring 2027.

As part of the government’s commitment to expand apprenticeship opportunities for young people, the £100 million of additional funding across 2 years doubles the number of areas matching young people with local businesses. Led by mayors, and driven by the skills and needs of local labour markets, this will deliver thousands more youth apprenticeships, supporting more young people to kickstart their careers.

This builds on government support for the rest of the country including full funding of training and assessment costs for all eligible apprentices aged 16 to 24 and the £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant, while the government’s ambition is to put strategic authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028.

Union Learning Fund

The Chancellor also confirmed £15 million a year of additional funding to restore the Union Learning Fund in England, helping working people gain new skills, progress at work and adapt as technology, including AI, changes the workplace.

The fund previously generated 180,000 learning opportunities every year and will draw on trade unions’ trusted workplace relationships to reach those people and help them access training through their employers and existing skills programmes.

This fund will help British workers harness AI rather than be outrun by it.

Employees will not need to be union members to benefit, with potential support ranging from essential English, maths and digital skills, to training for jobs in growing industries such as advanced manufacturing.

The Budget will set out details how apprenticeship brokerage expansion and Union Learning Fund are fully funded by savings found by the Department for Work & Pensions.

28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK Statement at the UN high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 September 2026.

Statement by Helen King, UK Ambassador to ECOSOC, at the UN high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

As we gather today, families in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are losing loved ones to Ebola.

Thousands of people have died.

Health workers are risking their lives every single day.

And communities already living with conflict and displacement are facing yet another crisis.

Outbreaks spread when we fail to act early enough.

The lessons are clear.

We know what works: strong surveillance, trusted local health systems, scientific innovation, and rapid access to finance.

And we know that no country can deliver these things alone.

That’s why the UK is supporting the Africa-led Ebola response, investing £78 million to strengthen surveillance and frontline health services.

Through the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, we are supporting the development of five vaccine candidates, with African and UK science partners.

On Monday of this week, the UK announced that it would invest up to £100 million in CEPI’s 3.0 strategy, which will support the development of new vaccines to combat pandemic and epidemic threats, including Ebola.

But we know that that is not enough.

Globally, we need stronger cooperation, faster information- sharing, and earlier financing so that countries can act before a crisis spirals out of control.

That is why the UK supports the development of the World Bank’s Day Zero Financing Framework.

This will enable countries to access financing for vaccines and treatments when the warning signs first appear.

It is also why we are committed to enhancing multilateral cooperation on health security.

This includes completing negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement’s Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System.

Because preparedness is about solidarity.

COVID-19 taught us that diseases do not respect borders.

And the next pandemic will not either.

So let us act on the lessons learned and invest in preparedness to help build a safer and healthier future for all.

28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : New measures to tackle prison drones, drugs and boost employment [September 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 28 September 2026.

Lord Chancellor Alex Norris announces action to tackle prison drones and drug use, and help offenders into work and stable accommodation.
- Technology firms to develop counter-drone solutions for prisons, while drug-free living units rolled out further across the estate.
- Construction skills programme and new digital service to help prisoners into work and accommodation on release.
- Tough and visible community payback projects nominated by local people will be prioritised.
New measures to improve prison security, tackle drug use and help offenders into work and stable accommodation have been announced by the Lord Chancellor today (28 September), as part of efforts to cut crime and reduce reoffending.

The package includes the next phase of a £6.5 million UK Research Innovation investment to develop new tools to tackle drones around prisons. Technology firms are being invited to bid for a share of up to £900,000 to test new solutions that help protect staff and clamp down on the smuggling of contraband behind bars.

There will also be an expansion of drug recovery units to a further 12 prisons, bringing the total to 100 across the estate. The specialist units help offenders address the substance abuse which often fuels their offending.

The Lord Chancellor, Alex Norris, also set out plans to get more offenders into work and stable accommodation to reduce reoffending. A new skills programme will link offender training directly to jobs and work experience in the construction sector with offenders helping build the new homes the country needs, while a new digital service will ensure staff can find suitable housing for prison leavers more easily.

Changes to Community Payback will also place greater priority on tough, visible projects nominated by local people such as cleaning graffiti and improving public spaces, ensuring offenders make a clearer contribution to the communities they’ve harmed.

Tackling drones around prisons

Technology companies will be invited to develop and test new ways of tackling drones around prisons.

This follows £35 million announced in June to strengthen security at our most at-risk prisons, including heavy duty window grilles, helping stop drones being used to smuggle drugs, weapons and phones that fuel violence behind bars.

There were 1,497 recorded drone incidents at prisons in England and Wales in the year to March 2026.

Expanding substance-free living in prisons

Incentivised Substance-Free Living units will be expanded to a further 12 prisons by the end of 2027/28, helping tackle drug use, build sustainable recovery and improve safety in prisons.

The units provide dedicated accommodation for prisoners who commit to living without illicit drugs, with regular drug testing and support to help them remain substance-free and where needed build sustainable recovery for example through access to Mutual Aid organisations.

Incentivised Substance-Free Living units are not the only places that people can access drug treatment and recovery services in prison, but they are dedicated spaces in prisons for those who are committed to living drug free and or are committing to their recovery from addiction.

They are currently funded in 88 prisons, with research showing prisoners on effectively run units were more than 30% less likely to be involved in violence, self-harm or disorder.

Connecting prison training with construction jobs

The Future Skills Programme will be expanded to strengthen the pathway of prison leavers into construction jobs, with around 750 prisoners expected to benefit. Training and work experience will be designed for the sector, while new Construction Academies will have direct links with employers in the community.

Employers and training providers will equip prisoners with skills needed by the sector and provide opportunities for eligible prisoners to gain work experience on Release on Temporary Licence, subject to risk assessment, and move into jobs after release.

Evidence shows ex-prisoners with a job are up to nine percentage points less likely to reoffend. In the year to March 2026, 36.5% of prison leavers were in work six months after release.

Prioritising visible Community Payback

Greater priority will be given to the tough and visible Community Payback projects nominated by the public, while strengthening opportunities for offenders to gain recognition for the skills they develop through unpaid work

People can already nominate projects through GOV.UK, including graffiti removal, litter picking, clearing wasteland and improving public spaces. A new framework will provide a consistent approach to prioritising this work across England and Wales.

More than 1.1 million hours of Community Payback were completed in the three months to December 2025 – up 5% on the same period a year earlier.

Plans are being developed to train supervisors as NVQ assessors so the skills offenders gain through unpaid work can earn nationally recognised qualifications whilst paying back their communities, helping improve their employment prospects.

Improving access to accommodation

A new digital system, Find and Manage Accommodation, will be rolled out nationally, giving prison and probation staff a single digital service to help them find suitable accommodation and support for offenders.

Having somewhere stable to live is closely linked to reducing reoffending: the latest published evidence shows adult offenders with no accommodation on release had a reoffending rate almost twice that of those with accommodation – 72% compared with 38%.

In the year to March 2026, 83% of prison leavers were housed on the night following release.
28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Leeds review sets out terms of reference for investigation [September 2026]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 28 September 2026.

Independent review into Leeds maternity and neonatal care sets out terms of reference for investigation.
- Review to examine the care women, babies and families received at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
- It follows repeated maternity failures at one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe
- The publication comes after Donna Ockenden was appointed to chair the independent review
Women and babies who were harmed while in the care of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) will have their experiences placed at the heart of an independent review.

Following extensive feedback from families, the Terms of Reference for the independent review into Maternity and Neonatal Services at LTHT have been published.

The document, reviewed by some of England’s top maternity and neonatal clinicians, sets out how individual cases will be examined. Clinical case reviews are due to begin in November.

The review is expected to conclude by 2029, and will cover the delivery of maternity and neonatal care from 1 January 2011 through until 31 March 2028, where mothers and babies have suffered severe harm or death while under the care of LTHT. This includes the review of stillbirths, maternal deaths, including by suicide, and some babies admitted to the neonatal unit.

The review will identify concerns in maternity and neonatal care at the trust and make recommendations to improve safety, quality and equity. Families affected have shaped the Terms of Reference through detailed feedback, ensuring their views and experiences are reflected throughout the review. They will continue to be closely involved as the review progresses.

Minister for Women’s Health and Maternity, Baroness Merron said:

My thoughts are with every family whose baby died or who experienced devastating harm while receiving care in Leeds. Their determination has brought us to this important point, and we owe it to them to listen and to establish the truth.

This independent review has been shaped by families themselves. Under Donna Ockenden, it will examine what happened, identify where care failed and make clear recommendations to help prevent other families suffering in the same way.

Every woman and baby deserves safe, compassionate maternity care. We are determined to improve standards in Leeds and across the country.

Michelle Welsh MP, the Government’s Maternity and Neonatal Adviser, said:

Families have fought for answers for far too long, and today marks an important step towards understanding what happened to women, babies and families receiving care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.

Families must remain at the heart of this review. Their experiences, alongside the expertise of clinicians and frontline staff, must help us understand where care went wrong, what can be learned and, crucially, what needs to change.

We owe it to every family affected to make sure their voices are heard, their experiences are properly examined and that the lessons from this review lead to safer maternity and neonatal care for women and babies.

Donna Ockenden, review Chair, said:

Today is a pivotal day for families, staff and the community in relation to the progress of the Review. The Terms of Reference have been reviewed and written together in partnership with families to ensure that all voices that wish to participate are heard and represented.

In due course, the Review will begin to receive information from the Trust, families, and staff so that we are able to begin case reviews. Families and staff can expect to receive contact from the Review Team in the coming months.

On behalf of the Review Team and I, I would like to thank the families for their time and ongoing engagement to ensure that the Terms of Reference were inclusive and reflective of the populations’ needs. Your perspective and valuable feedback has helped shape the framework for the Review, and your voices will continue to be acknowledged, listened to and acted upon as the Review progresses.

The government is already taking strong action on maternity services, including investing £187 million since April last year to make maternity and neonatal services safer, extending Martha’s Rule to every ward so that patients and their families can have confidence that reports of deterioration will be acted on and hiring almost 2,000 more midwives. The government is committed to appointing England’s first statutory Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner to ensure the voices of women, babies and families are at the heart of national policy making.

The Health and Social Care Secretary is chairing a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce and will develop an action plan by the end of the year.

Families said:

The Independent Maternity Review of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) has marked a pivotal moment in its mission to deliver transparency, truth, and lasting change for families across the region.

It is a significant milestone for the Independent Maternity Review of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust to publish its Terms of Reference.

A large number of Leeds families from very diverse backgrounds have contributed a wealth of time to help shape these Terms of Reference. Hopefully, this will allow as many people as possible, across a wide range of circumstances, to be included.

The agreed time period covered by the review is a major strength. This will allow the full tenures of previous CEOs of LTHT to be covered and scrutinised.

It is important to note that even if families do not meet the strict criteria, they will still be able to contribute under the “family experiences” chapter of the investigation. We encourage them to still reach out to the review; their experiences remain entirely valid.

We are pleased that Donna and the DHSC recognise the importance of so many voices being heard. This includes representing the voices of mothers who are no longer with us, having sadly died by suicide during pregnancy or up to one year post-birth, which remains the leading direct cause of maternal death in the late postnatal period.

Our hope is that a platform has been created that will allow as many people to be seen and heard as possible, ensuring the snowball of truth continues to grow alongside the necessary accountability that must follow.

We urge any family who has been affected by maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust within the review period to come forward. Your voice matters, your experience is vital, and you will be listened to with the utmost compassion and confidentiality. You and your family mattered then, they matter now and they always will.
28/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : New research ship to be built in Britain, boosting British shipbuilding and transforming UK ocean science [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for the Environment on 28 September 2026.

Government to invest in a new sea monitoring ship to be built in UK shipyards – creating British jobs.

A new government funded research ship, built in UK shipyards, will create jobs and help protect the nation’s climate, energy and food security. The government has committed to build this new vessel as part of its drive to reindustrialise the UK and support our shipyards.

The new ship will lead a new national system for monitoring the UK’s seas. It will bring together marine surveys, data and technology in one place, helping the nation manage fisheries and the marine environment more effectively.

At 85 metres long and able to accommodate more than 40 people, the vessel will carry out a wide range of scientific work. This includes assessing fish stocks, mapping the seabed, monitoring pollution, and responding quickly to marine incidents. It will use the latest technology, including automation, robotics and artificial intelligence, and will run on clean fuels, helping position the UK as a global leader in marine science while reducing environmental impact.

The UK’s seas contributed more than £200 billion to the economy in 2021. This investment reflects how important the marine environment is to the UK’s economy, security and long-term resilience.

The vessel will replace the RV Cefas Endeavour, which has supported UK marine science since 2003 and is due to retire in the early 2030s.

Defra Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Anjali Goswami said:

Science leadership and innovation are critical to informing the complex decision making necessary to balance the needs of people and nature, within a challenging context of economic, societal and environmental pressures.

By investing in a next-generation Research Vessel, we can continue to harness marine scientific understanding to make better decisions to safeguard our essential human needs: water, food and energy security.

Cefas CEO, Tim Green, said:

This once-in-a-generation investment is a significant moment for Cefas and UK marine science. This new vessel will give our scientists the capability to monitor and understand our changing seas, support sustainable fisheries and inform management decisions, and respond to growing marine challenges. 

For 125 years, Cefas has worked alongside coastal communities and the fishing industry from our main sites in Lowestoft and Weymouth to deliver world-leading marine science.

This investment will build on that proud heritage, create opportunities for the next generation and ensure that they have the tools to shape the future of our seas.

The new vessel is expected to be operational in 2031 or 2032, continuing over 125-years of world-leading UK marine research. Delivery of the vessel will be led by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), which has laboratories in Lowestoft and Weymouth.

The government expects to engage with the UK shipbuilding sector in the coming months to plan the next stage of the procurement process. The vessel’s design will reflect the specialist scientific needs of the mission.

28/09/2026